Tile loading machines



Dec. 8, 1964 1.. s. ROARK TILE LOADING MACHINES 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 FiledDec.

INVENTOR \M a QN MW m M m l M w\ W km Leon 5. Roar/r WM BY ATTORNEYSDec. 8, 1964 s. ROARK 3,

TILE LOADING MACHINES Filed Dec. 1, 1961 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Leon5. Roar/r ATTORNEYS Dec. 8, 1964 1.. s. ROARK TILE LOADING MACHINES 5Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Dec. 1, 1961 ATTORNEYS L. S. ROARK TILE LOADINGMACHINES Dec. 8, 1964 Filed Dec. 1, 1961 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 I 'INVENTOR 47Leon 5. Roar/r "1i WWQ ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,16%,295 'HLELGADING MACHENES Leon S. Roarir, Shreveport, La assignor to ClaiborneSales Company of Texas, Palestine, Tera, a corporation of Texas FiledDec. 1, 1961, Ser. No. 156,339 4 Qlairns. (Cl. 2i4-l6.6)

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in loadingmachines and more particularly to a machine for automatically loadingceramic bisque or greenware in racks.

One object of the invention is to provide an improved machine forautomatically loading fragile articles, such as ceramic bisque orgreenware, in racks whereby it IS unnecessary to handle the articles andthe possibility of damaging the articles is eliminated.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved loadingmachine for ceramic bisque or greenware wherein the greenware isconveyed to one or more elevating stations and lifted into position formovement into racks which are conveyed transversely of each elevatingstation for receiving and carrying the greenware therefrom.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved loadingmachine, of the character described, wherein the racks are automaticallypositioned in alinement with the lifting means of the elevating stationand said station has pusher means for automatically transferringthegreenware from said lifting means to said racks upon the elevating ofa predetermined quantity of greenware.

A particular object of the invention is to provide an improved loadingmachine, of the character described, having a pair of elevating stationsfed by a common conveyor so that greenware may be conducted to andlifted by one of the elevating stations while greenware is beingtransferred to a rack at the other station whereby the operation of thecommon conveyor is continuous and uninterrupted.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved loadingmachine, of the character described, having a transverse conveyor forsupporting racks above the common feed conveyor adjacent each elevatingstation and means for intermittently operating the transverse conveyorto position the racks relative to the lifting and pusher means of theelevating station.

A construction designed to carry out the invention will be hereinafterdescribed, together with other features of the invention.

The invention will be more readily understood from a reading of thefollowing specification and by reference to the accompanying drawings,wherein an example of the invention is shown and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view, partly in section, of a loadingmachine constructed in accordance with the invention,

FIG. 2 is a horizontal, cross-sectional view, taken on the line 22 ofFIG. 1,

FIG. 3 is an end elevational View of the loading machine,

FIG. 4 is an enlarged, fragmentary view showing the drive of one of theelevating conveyors,

FIG. 5 is a View, similar to FIG. 4, showing the drive for one of thetransverse conveyors,

FIG. 6 is a transverse, vertical, sectional view, taken on the line 6-6of FIG. 2,

FIG. 7 is a simplified wiring diagram of the first elevating stationcircuit,

FIG. 8 is a simplified wiring diagram of one of the transverse conveyorcircuits,

3,ib9,295 iatented Dec. 8, 1964 veyors 12 for receiving and lifting thetile T from the feed conveyor 11 and transfer means 13 for pushing theelevated tile into the compartments C of racks R which are known in thetrade as setters, compacts or kiln furniture. A horizontal, endlessconveyor 14 extends transversely of the feed conveyor adjacent and tothe left of each elevating station for supporting the racks R andpositioning the compartments thereof in alinement with the transfermeans 13 and the space between the conveyors 12 of the station. Theracks are adapted to be removed from the transverse conveyors 14 andplaced in a kiln (not shown) for curing the tile T. As shown in FIG. 3,each rack R may include a pair of open, upright, parallel compartments Chaving horizontal, spaced, side rails or shoulders S in opposed relationfor supporting the tile therebetween in tiers; however, it is noted thatthe racks may be of'different construction.

The frame 10 is rectangular and has upper and lower pairs oflongitudinal members15 and transverse, end members 16 connected to oneanother and to upright legs or standards 17. Suitable adjustable feet 18are provided for supporting the legs 17 and the medial portions of thelower longitudinal members 15. If desired, the sides of the frame may beenclosed by thin plate or sheet metal 19. A plurality of horizontalshafts 20 extend transverselybetween and are rotatably supported by theupper longitudinal members 15 for supporting rollers 21 upon which thepair of endless, parallel belts 22 of the feed conveyor 11 ride (FIG.2). As shown, the feed conveyor may be of greater length than the frameso as to project therefrom toward the glaze sprayer and the belts 22extend between the adjacent, inner flights of each pair of uprightconveyors 12, the over-all width of said belts being less than the widthof the tile T so that the lateral edges of the tile overhang said belts.For driving the feed conveyor, a pulley 23 is mounted on the shaft 21 atthe right-hand or outer end of the frame (FIG. 2) and is connected by abelt 24 to one of the drive pulleys 25 of a gear reducer 26 which has abelt and pulley drive connection 27 with a motor 28. The gear reducer Z6and motor 28 are suitably mounted on one of the lower frame members Eachof the elevating stations A and B includes a the upper frame members 15(FIGS. 1, 3 and 6). A

horizontal, rectangular frame 3-9 is fastened to the upper ends of theupright bars 29 and supports a longitudinal medial bar or member 31.Preferably, the sides and top of each superstructure 28 are enclosed bythin plate or sheet metal 32 having opposed openings 33 therein foraccommodating the conveyor 14 and the racks R supported thereon. Each ofthe upright conveyors 12 includes a pair of endless chains 34 supportedby upper and lower pairs of sprockets 35 and 36 and having right angularcleats or plates 37 connected thereto and extendmg transversely thereof.The upper pair of sprockets 35 is mounted on a longitudinal shaft 38supported by the frame 30 (FIG. 6) and the lower pair of sprockets 36 1Sm0llI1iI6d on a longitudinal shaft 39 which is suptile therebetween by.its lateral edges which overhang the feed conveyor. belts 22.

For imparting rotation to the lower sprockets 36 "so as to drive thechains :34- of each conveyor 12, a helical gea'r,41 is, fixed on each"shaft 39 and has its teeth meshing with one of a pair of helical gearsB Z'carried by a .shaft 43 journaled and 'extendingtransver'sely betweenthe upper frame members 15 (FIGS. land 6). One of the, coactihg gearsY41 and 42 is reversed relative to the other. gear so that the innerflights of each pair of conveyors travel upwardly. t A worm wheel 44 ismout ed on one end of the shaft 43 formeshing with one or a pair ofworms 45carried by. a shaft 46, common to both elevating stations,extendinglongitudinally of one of the upper frame members and 'journaledin suitable bearings 47. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the shaft 46 has apulley 48 on one end thereof connected by an endless belt 49 to one ofthe drivev pulleys 50 of the gear reducer 26.

Each worm diforms'a part of a flanged clutch sleeve 51 'rotatablyconfinedon the shaft 46 between a set collar 52 and a'clutch member 53fixed on said shaft (FIG. 4). A second clutch member 54 is slidablyconfined on the sleeve 51 and is urged toward the first clutch member 53by a plurality of helical springs 55 for meshing the coacting teeth ofthe clutch members and causing rotationof the Worm v45 with the shaft 46to drive the worm wheel 44 and its. shaft/t3. For holding the clutchmembers out of engagement, a pin 56 projects laterally from the clutchmember 54 and is adapted to be engaged by a latch lever 57 which ispivotally suspended as shownat 58 from av solenoid'59 mounted on theframe member 15 adjacent andtransvcrsely of the shaft 46. The upper endof the lever 57 is'pivotallyatt ache'd to the outer end of the armature,which is spring-loaded, of the solenoid 59 as shown at 60 so as to pivottransversely of the clutch member 54 and longitudinally of its pin 56,the lower end of said lever being tapered as shown at 61 so that it willengage said pin as itpivots'inwardly and move said clutch member out ofengagement with the first clutch member 53.

The transfer means 13 of each of the elevating'stations I A and Bincludes an elongate, upright, flat pusher r'nern her or plate 62 of awidth less than the distance between the angular cleats 37 of the innerflights of the upright A horizontal bar or rod 63 extends from theright-hand or outer end of the frame 16 and is pivotally suspended froman'overlying bracketed, which projects horizontally from the framefiflof the superstructure 23,

by two pairs of armsor links 65 and 66. In addition to being pivoted tothe bar 63 and bracket '64, each pair .of arms 65 and 66 haslimitedpivotalconnection 67and 68, respectively, at the adjacent ends ofthe armswhereby the lower arms may 'pivot upwardly only relative to theupper arms. The corresponding arms of the pairs of arms are parallel,and of the same length so that the bar is maintained in parallelrelation to the bracket upon pivotal movement of said arms. An extension69 upstands from the upper arm of the. outer pair of arms 65 for pivotalconnection with the piston rod 71 of a horizontal pressure fluidcylinder 72 which overliesand is supported by the medial bar 31 of thesuperstructure 28. Air or other fluid under pressure 'is suppliedby. aline 73 to the cylinder 72,,which has 'a spring-pressed piston (notshown), and the admission and exhaust of the fluid is 'bar 92.

controlled by a solenoid 74. Due to this arrangement, when the pistonrod 71 is ejected from the cylinder, the pairs of arms 65 and 66 arepivoted clockwise about the pivot axis of the bracket 64 to swing thebar 63 and plate 62 through the space between the inner flights of theupright conveyors. Upon retraction of the piston rod, the transfer means13 moves counterclockwise toits original position.

Each transverse conveyor 14 includes an elongate, rectangular bed orframe 75 overlying the feed conveyor 11 and extending through theopposed openings 33 of the superstructure 28 of each of theelevatingstations'A and B (FIGS. 1 and 3). The outenprojectingends ofthe conveyor bed 75 are connected to the lower frame members 15 bysuitable. reinforcing rods or members 76. Sprockets 7 7 are mounted onshafts '78 extending transversely of the ends of the conveyorbed forsupportingthe upper flight of an endless chain 79 havingtransverselyextending, flat cleats or plates 80 and spacers 8,1 whichsupport and space the racks R. Preferably, longitudinal flanges 82upstand from the medial portion of the conveyor bed 75 to preventlateral displacement of the racks. I he lowerportion of the chain 70extends around one of a pair of sprockets 83 which form a part ofaclutch member 84 journaled on a horizontal shaft 85 as shown in FIG, 5Theshaft'SS extends longitudinally of the frame 10, being journaled inbearings 86 mounted on the legs 17 of said frame, and has-a chainand'sprocketjdrive connection 87 with the gear reducer 26 (FIGS, 1 and3). A set collar 88 on the shaft 85 confines each clutch member 34 inclose proximity to one of a pair 'of complementary clutch member89 whichis keyed on said shaft and which has a collar 90 rot-atably mountedthereon for connection with a forked lever 91 (FIG. 5). The lever 91 ispivotally suspeneded from a horizontal angle bar 92extendinglongitudinally of the frame 10 and supporting a pair ofsolenoids 93 and 94. Ajsuitablelinkage 95'pivotally connects thearmatures of the solenoids 93 and :94- to the upper end of the leverwhich. projects above its pivotal connection to the angle bar 92. Whenthe solenoid 93 is energized and the solenoid 94 is d'e-energized, thelever 91 is pivoted clockwise to slide the clutch member 89 intoengagement with the clutch member 84 so that the sprocket 83 is rot'atedb'y'the shaft 85 to drive the conveyor 14. The clutch members aredisengaged and the sprocket remains stationary upon energizin'g'of thesolenoid 94 and de energizin'g of solenoid '93 so 'as'to pivot the levercounterclockwise. As will be explained, pins 96 and 97 extend laterallyfrom the sprocket 83 for actuating a switch $8 which is suspended fromthe angle In operation, thetile T is conducted from the glaze sprayer tothe first elevating station A by the feed conveyor 11. Although notshown, one of the'racksR is positioned with its right-hand compartment C(FIG. 3)

in alinement with the space between. the inner flights of the uprightvconveyors 12 and with the pusher, plate 62 of the transfer'means '13 byoperation ofthe transverse conveyor 14. When the first tile moves overthe angularv '(FIG. 1 The can 99 is'con'nected'by a lead 100 to a sourceof electrical current and by a lead 191 to a relay 162 from which alead'ltlfi extends to the electrical current source (FIG. 7 It isnotedthat thiscirc'uit has been simplified since it is conventional.Leads resend connect the contacts of the relay 162 to the solenoid 59 ofthe, transverse conveyor 14 of the station A and to a lead 106 whichextends from an electrical current source to one of the contacts ofanother relay 107. A ratchet relay 108 has one of its contacts connected"to the relay 59 by a lead 109, to the electrical current source byleads 110, and to one of the contacts of the'relay 107 by a lead 111.The relay 107 is connected by leads 112 and 113 to a secondphotoelectric cell 114 which is mounted adjacent the cell 99 as shown inFIG. 1 and the beam to which is broken by the movement of the tile bythe feed conveyor. A conventional counter circuit or other countingmeans D is connected in the leads 112 and 113 between the relay 107 andcell 114 for actuating the ratchet relay 108 at predetermined intervals,such as every sixteenth tile.

The relay 1132 is energized by the breaking of the .beam to the cell 99so as to energize the solenoid 59 when the contacts of the ratchet relay1118 are engaged, whereby the lever 57 is pivoted counterclockwise anddisengaged from the pin 56 of the clutch member 54 to permit engagementof the latter with the clutch member 53. This connects the worm 45 tothe shaft 46 for rotation therewith during one complete revolution andimparting intermittent rotation to the worm wheel 44 to drive the shaft43 and, through the meshing gears 41 and 42, the shafts 39 upon whichthe lower sprockets 36 of the upright conveyors 12 are mounted (FIGS.2-4 and 6). The intermittent travel of the upright conveyors is equal tothe vertical distance between the rails S of the racks R for .aliningthe tile with the spaces therebetween and continues until apredetermined number of tile, such as sixteen or other numbercorresponding to the number of the rack rails, has been lifted. It isnoted that each tile carried by the feed conveyor breaks the beam to thecell 99 for energizing the relay 59 which is de-energized when the tileis lifted or moved out of said beam. Although the beam to the cell 114is broken by each tile, the counter circuit D between said cell and therelay 107 is such that said relay is not energized until thepredetermined number of tile is lifted. The ratchet relay 108 isenergized by the energization of the relay 107 to disengage the contactsof said ratchet relay and break the circuit to the solenoid 59 andprevent energization thereof by the relay 102. Due to the springloadedarmature of the solenoid 59, the lever 57 pivots clockwise intoengagement with the pin 56 of the clutch member 54 upon eachde-energization of said solenoid and moves said clutch member out ofengagement with the clutch member 53 to stop the travel of the uprightconveyors 12.

, A third photoelectric cell 115 is mounted adjacent the cells 99 and114 and the beam thereto is broken by the movement of the tile by thefeed conveyor 11. As

. shown in FIG. 9, leads 116 and 117 connect the cell 115 to a relay 118from the contacts of which leads 119 and 120 extend to an electricalcurrent source and to a holding relay 121. A conventional countercircuit or other counting means E is connected in the leads 116 and 117between the cell 115 and relay 113 for actuating said relay atpredetermined intervals, such as every sixteenth tile. The lead 119 isconnected by a lead 122 to the holding relay and leads 123 and 124extend from the contacts of said relay to a ratchet relay 125 and to alead 126 also connected to the ratchet relay, the lead 124 extending toa normally-closed switch 127 mounted on the upper arm 66 of the transfermeans 13 of the second elevating station B. A lead 128 connects theswitch 127 to an identical switch 129, of the transfer means 13 of theelevating station A, from which a lead 130 extends to the lead 120. Theswitches 127 and 129 are adapted to be opened by engagement with thebrackets 64 upon clockwise pivoting of the arms 66 and inwardreciprocation of the pusher plate 62 to break the circuit to and releasethe holding relay 121. A lead 131 connects the holding relay to a lead132 which extends from the electrical current source to the solenoid 74which controls the supply of pressure fluid to the cylinder 72 of theelevating station A. The latter solenoid is connected by a lead 133 toone of the contacts 143 of the ratchet relay 125, the lead 132 and theother cont act 142 of said ratchet relay being connected by leads 134and 135 to the solenoid 74 of the elevating a 94 which engage anddisengage the clutch members 84 station B, and a lead 136 extends fromthe lead, 134 to said ratchet relay. Switches 137 and 139, connected byleads 138 and 141) to an electrical current source and ratchet relays141 (FIG. 8), are mounted on the brackets 64 for engagement andactuation by the links 70 to energize the relays 141 uponcounterclockwise pivoting of the arms 65 and 66 and outwardreciprocation of the pusher plates 62. As will be explained, eachratchet relay 141 controls the energization of the solenoids 93 and 94for engaging and disengaging the clutch members 84 and 89 of eachtransverse conveyor 14.

Since the ratchet relay has separate contacts 142 and 143 connected tothe leads and 133, only one of the transfer means 13 is actuated at atime. The contact 143 of the lead 133 is shown engaged in FIG. 9 foractuating the transfer means of the elevating station A. Uponenergization of the relay 118 by breaking of the beam to the cell 115,the holding relay 121 is energized so as to energize the ratchet relayand the solenoid 74 for admitting pressure fluid to the cylinder 72 andthereby actuate the transfer means 13 of the elevating station A. Thecircuit between the cell 115 and relay 118 is such that the relay is notenergized until a predetermined number of tile, such as eight orone-half of the number lifted, are moved past the first station A by thefeed conveyor 11. As has been explained, admission of pressure fluid tothe cylinder causes ejection of the piston rod 71 and clockwise pivotingof the arms 65 as well as the arms 66 so as to reciprocate the pusherbar 63 and plate 62 inwardly for pushing the tile T from between theinner flights of the upright conveyors 12 into the right-handcompartment C of the rack R (FIG. 3). When the pusher plate reaches theend of its inner stroke, the switch 129 engages the bracket 64 andbreaks the circuit to and releases the holding relay 121 so as tode-energize the solenoid 74 and permit the escape of pressure fluid fromthe cylinder 72 whereby the piston rod is retracted and pivots the arms65 and 66 counterclockwise to impart outward reciprocation to the pusherbar and plate (FIG. 1).

Since the elevating stations A and B are spaced apart a distance equalto the length of five tile and the necessary spacing therebetween,neither station functions during the time required for the tile T toreach the upright conveyors 12 of the second station B. A photoelectriccell 144 and its actuating lamp bulb 145 are mounted at the lower end ofthe superstructure 28 of the elevating station B (FIG. 3.) so that thelight beam therebetween is broken by the tile being moved into overlyingrelation to the cleats 37 of the upright conveyors of said station. Asshown inFIG. 10, the cell 144 is connected by leads 146 and 147 to arelay 148 and an electrical current source and a lead 149 extendsbetween the relay and the electrical current source to complete acircuit which has been simplified for purposes of illustration. A lead150 connects one contact of the relay 148 to the solenoid 59 of thetransverse conveyor 14 of the station B and leads 151 and 152 extendfrom the other contact of said relay and from said solenoid to anelectrical current source. The relay 148 is energized by the breaking ofthe beam between the cell 144 and bulb 145 so as to energize thesolenoid 59 for pivoting the lever 57 counterclockwise to release theclutch member 54 and permit its engagement withthe clutch member 53whereby the worm wheel 44 and its shaft 43 are driven by the worm 45 andshaft 46 to drive the shafts 39 and lower sprockets 36 of the uprightconveyors 12.

During the lifting of the tile T at the second station, as explained,the transfer means 13 of the first station is actuated. Upon retractionof the piston rod 71, the link 70 engages and actuates the switch 139 toenergize the ratchet relay 141. As shown in FIG. 8, the relay 141 issimilar to the relay 125 and has its contacts 153 and 154 connected byleads 156 and 157 to the solenoids 93 and and 33 for controlling therotation of the sprocket 33 and 7 the driving of the transverse conveyor1 Alead 157 extends from the solenoid 9'3 to the lead 13$,w'vhichconnects one contact of the tswitch 139 to an electrical current source,and leadsl158 and 159 extend from the lead 157 to the solenoid Y94 andswitch 93. In addition to being connected to the relay 141, the lead 140of the other contact of .tliefswitch "139 is connected by a lead 160 tothe switch 98. Leads 160 and 161 extend. from the ratchettrelay to theelectrical current source. When the solenoid 93 is energized and thesolenoid 9'4 de-energized by the contact :153 of the lead 155 beingengaged, the lever 91 is pivoted clockwise to engage the clutch members84 and 89to causedriving of the transverse conveyor 14 "of the firstelevating station A to 'rnovethe rack R and alineits left-handcompartment C with the space between the upright conveyors 12. Theamount of movement is controlled by the positions of the 'pins 96 and 97of the sprocket 83 whichareadapted toengage and actuate the switch 98fonzenergizing the relay l'dl'and .thereby engage the contact'154 of thelead 156 so as to tie-energize the solenoid 93 and energize the solenoid94 for disengaging the clutch members. Due to the construction of theracks R and the spacing therebetween, a greater movement of thetransverse conveyor is-required between racks than between thecompartments of the same rack in order to accurately-position thecompartments. Accordingly, theclockwis'e; distance between the pins 96and 97 is greater than'the clockwise distance ofsaid pin 97 fromsaidpinj96 and, for example, may be 202.5 degrees and 157.5 degrees,respectively.

, The aforesaid movement of the transverse conveyor 14 of the elevatingstation A is completed during th 'lifti'ng of the "tile T by theuprightconveyors '12 of the second station B and the lifting of tile atsaid station A is resumed, Upon completion of thelifting operation atthe second station, the relays, 118 and 121 are energizedto energize theratchet relay 125 and engage the contact M2 ofthe lead 135 for actuatingthe transfer means 13 of said second station (FIG. 9). The holdingrelay121 is released by thebreaking of the circuit there-to when theswitch 127engages the bracket 64 at the end of the inner stroke ofthejtranjsfer means to permit outward'reciprocation of said meansandactuatioa of the switch 137 by engagement with the link '70. Althoughnot shown, the switch 137 is 'connected to the solenoids '93, and 94 andswitch 98 of the transverse conveyor 14 of the second station Band'toara-tchetrelay, identical to the relay 141, in the manner shown inFIG. 8 whereby said conveyor is driven to position another rackcompartment for receiving tile lifted at said station. During the travelof the transverse conveyor of the second station, the. lifting operationis completed by the first station andthe tile on the feed conveyor 11 isconducted to said second station.

The foregoing description of the invention is explanatory thereof andvarious changes in the size, shape and materials, as well as in thedetails of the illustrated construction may be made, within the scope ofthe appended claims,'without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A machine for loading articles in racks having means for supporting aplurality of articles in superimposed relationship including an endlessfeed conveyor for continuously advancing articlesin a single line, firstand second uprightconveyor means in 'alinernent with and spacedlongitudinally of the feed conveyor for receiving and lifting thearticles therefrom, means overlying said feed conveyor and adjacent eachof the upright conveyor means for supporting a rack, first and secondmeans for transferring the lifted articles from each upright conveyormeans to the adja'c'ent rack,

fixed means adjacent each orieof said upright-conveyor 'meansresponsiveto each "article fed thereto by said feed conveyor for intermittentlyactuating each one "of said conveyor means,

and second means at the first upright conveyor means responsive to thefeeding thereto of a predetermined number of articles by said feedconveyor for render: ing the intermittent actuating means inoperable andthereby prevent actuation of said first upright con- 'veyor means toenable the articles to pass said first upright conveyor means and feedto the second uprightc'onveyor means without causing operation of saidfirst upright conveyor means.

2. A loading machine asset forth in claim l'incl'uding third means atthe first upright conveyor means responsive to the advancement bythe-feed conveyor of a-predeterminednumber of articles foralternately-actuating the first and second transferring means.

3. A machine for loading fragile articles in rackshaving means forsupporting a plurality of the articles in superimposed relationshipincluding an endless feed conveyor for continuously "advancing fragilearticles in a single line with opposed edge por tions of thearticles-projecting laterally therefrom,

first and second elevating stations 'in alinement with and spacedlongitudinally of the feed conveyor,

a pair of coactingbndless upright conveyors at each -of the elevatingstationshaving inner flights on opposite sides of said feed conveyor forreceiving and lifting therefrom'the articles by their edgeportions,

means overlying said feed conveyor at each station for'supporting a rackin close proximity to the inner flights of'the pair of upright conveyorsof the station,

a pusher member at each station and movable longitudinallyof said feedconveyor between said inner flights of'said upright conveyors forengaging and pushing a plurality of the lifted articles from saidflights into the adjacent rack, 7

means fixed at each station responsive to each article advanced by saidfeed conveyor between said inner conveyor flights of the station forintermittently actuating its upright conveyors,

and second means at the intersection ofsaid feed conveyor with the innerconveyor flights of the first station and responsive to the advancementby said feed conveyor of a predetermined number of articlesbetween saidinner flights for rendering the intermittent actuating means inoperableand'thereby prevent ac- =tuation of said paid of uprigh-t-conveyorstoenable the articles to pass said inner flights and feed to the innerconveyor flights of thesecond station without causing operation of saidupright conveyors of said first station.

4. A loading machine as set forth in claim 3'including third means atthe first station adjacent the second means and responsive to theadvancement by the feed conveyor of a predetermined number of articlesbetween the inner flights of the upright pair of conveyors of saidstation'for alternately aotuating'the pusher members of saidfirst andsecond stations.

References Cited in the file of'this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,606,477 McClelland Nov. 9,1926 1,779,210 Davis Oct. 21, 1930 2,698,693Nord'quist Jan. 4, 1955 2,936,908 Carothers May'l7, 1960

1. A MACHINE FOR LOADING ARTICLES IN RACKS HAVING MEANS FOR SUPPORTING APLURALITY OF ARTICLES IN SUPERIMPOSED RELATIONSHIP INCLUDING AN ENDLESSFEED CONVEYOR FOR CONTINUOUSLY ADVANCING ARTICLES IN A SINGLE LINE,FIRST AND SECOND UPRIGHT CONVEYOR MEANS IN ALINEMENT WITH AND SPACEDLONGITUDINALLY OF THE FEED CONVEYOR FOR RECEIVING AND LIFTING THEARTICLES THEREFROM, MEANS OVERLYING SAID FEED CONVEYOR AND ADJACENT EACHOF THE UPRIGHT CONVEYOR MEANS FOR SUPPORTING A RACK, FIRST AND SECONDMEANS FOR TRANSFERRING THE LIFTED ARTICLES FROM EACH UPRIGHT CONVEYORMEANS TO THE ADJACENT RACK, FIXED MEANS ADJACENT EACH ONE OF SAIDUPRIGHT CONVEYOR MEANS RESPONSIVE TO EACH ARTICLE FED THERETO BY SAIDFEED CONVEYOR FOR INTERMITTENTLY ACTUATING EACH ONE OF SAID CONVEYORMEANS, AND SECOND MEANS AT THE FIRST UPRIGHT CONVEYOR MEANS RESPONSIVETO THE FEEDING THERETO OF A PREDETERMINED NUMBER OF ARTICLES BY SAIDFEED CONVEYOR FOR RENDERING THE INTERMITTENT ACTUATING MEANS INOPERABLEAND THEREBY PREVENT ACTUATION OF SAID FIRST UPRIGHT CONVEYOR MEANS TOENABLE THE ARTICLES TO PASS SAID FIRST UPRIGHT CONVEYOR MEANS AND FEEDTO THE SECOND UPRIGHT CONVEYOR MEANS WITHOUT CAUSING OPERATION OF SAIDFIRST UPRIGHT CONVEYOR MEANS.